The Shocking Secret of a Guest at the Wedding (Millworth Manor) Read Free Page B

madly in love, the way only someone young and inexperienced can be. It was all terribly romantic.” She shrugged. “In a moment of mad, starry-eyed impulse we eloped.”
    “Scarcely a moment,” his father said. “As I recall it took quite a bit of secrecy and several days of machinations to arrange. It was not at all easy.” He smiled at his wife. “But well worth it.”
    “Don’t try to be flirtatious with me, Basil.” Mother huffed. “I am long past the time when that sort of thing will work on me. Especially coming from you.”
    “My apologies, Elizabeth.” His father struggled to keep a smile off his face. “You can’t blame me for trying.”
    “I most certainly can.” Mother paused. “Now where was I? Oh yes, we were married. My parents were not at all pleased. In fact, Father was livid. He thought I had surely lost my mind. I had never been an impulsive sort. They pointed out Basil and I had nothing in common. He was English after all and I was American.”
    “That doesn’t seem like a great deal to overcome,” Jack said.
    “That wasn’t all. They said we were being reckless and irresponsible. That marriage was forever and we hadn’t given it due consideration. They said our marrying was nothing more than the foolish actions of youth. There was more, of course, but I don’t remember all of it now. Suffice it to say, they convinced me”—she looked at her husband—“or rather they convinced us we had made a dreadful mistake.” She shook her head. “You must understand I did not have nearly the strength of character than that I do now.”
    “The biggest mistake I made was allowing them to convince me,” his father said.
    “Stop it, Basil.” Mother glared at him and continued. “My parents said the best way to resolve the situation was to return to America and have the marriage annulled. And so your father and I parted. By the time I returned home I realized I was, well, you were going to arrive, which made an annulment impossible.” She raised a shoulder in a casual shrug. “And that’s all there is to it really.”
    Jack stared at his mother. “Although I believe you have left out the part where you never mentioned to my father that he had a son. Or the part where you failed to tell me I had a father who was very much alive.”
    She waved off Jack’s comments. “You already know that part. I didn’t think it necessary to repeat it. So.” She cast them her brightest smile. “Shall we go in to dinner?”
    “No.” Jack shook his head. “You really have given no good reason as to why you didn’t tell me about my father. What you’ve said thus far is not a satisfactory explanation. I think I—I think we —deserve better.”
    “Nonetheless that’s all I have.” Mother’s jaw tightened. “Would you prefer that I say I was afraid? Afraid that your father would snatch you away from me? Afraid that you would hate me if you learned what I’d kept from you? Is that what you want to hear?”
    “Only if it’s the truth,” Jack said slowly.
    “Very well, then I suppose that was part of it.” She shook her head. “I had no desire to lose my only child.”
    “Did you really think I would do that?” his father said quietly.
    “How did I know what you would do? I barely knew you after all.” She paused and her voice softened. “I truly did try to write to you, Basil, but I couldn’t find the words. And the longer I put it off, the harder it was. Surely you understand?”
    Lucy nodded. “It’s like running into someone you’ve met over and over again, but you can’t remember their name. And the longer that you go on without asking what their name is the harder it is to ask.” She shook her head. “That can be most embarrassing.”
    “Exactly.” Mother thought for a moment. “Well not exactly but you do understand my dilemma.” Her gaze shifted from Lucy to Jack to her husband. “Do you? Understand, that is?”
    “Not really,” Jack muttered. “Especially